Sports

B-Ball Players, Young and Old, Still Competing at the Cage

By Stephanie Chan

Staff writer

Before Anthony Mason, Earl Monroe, Julius Erving and others became NBA standouts, they were winners on the basketball court at West Fourth Street and Sixth Avenue, a place called “The Cage” that is still attracting players, young and old.

On any given weekday or weekend, when the weather is good, The Cage is busy.

Francis Lewis High School rising junior Ben Sharabi, 16, has played there since he was 9 years old. He is hoping to eventually play professional basketball in Israel, where his parents were born.

“I love the atmosphere and how it’s caged,” he said. “I love how a lot of people come here. It’s … very busy.”

The Cage has captured the attention and gained sponsorship from such corporations as Pepsi, Nike and Gatorade. They have helped pay for jerseys, trophies, maintenance of the courts and other necessities.

In the 1980s, record producer Samuel Perry played point guard, shooting guard and forward on the 12-person The Ravens team, one in a list of teams that came from throughout New York City’s five boroughs. “You have to be tough because if you weren’t tough then you probably wont get a chance of playing again,” said Perry, 57, a Harlem resident who used to play up to four days a week. “You have to give it your all if you wanted to stay on this court.”

Players who aren’t tough enough tend not to get playing time on a spot—there is one full court and one half court—where so many teams and individuals are vying to play. Except for the pick-up games, tryouts are required for the men and women players; women’s division games are only on the weekends.

The Cage hopefuls must show their skill at dribbling, passing and shooting the ball.

The play is rigorous and the competition is intense, said Sharod Durant, 28, a musician from Brooklyn. For seven years, he practiced 90 minutes almost daily at The Cage, he said. However, since injuring his back in a December 2005 car accident he has not been able to be as physically aggressive, so he limits himself to only the pick-up games.

But he is still extremely drawn to The Cage, said Durant, a musician who produces and composes music.

“I choose to come to this court because of the atmosphere and the players,” he said.

Jay Reid, 31, coaches the DK Stompers, who also compete at The Cage. He loves The Cage’s environment but wishes it were not smaller than the average basketball court. “I hated it then,” said Reid, who used to practice there when he was younger, “and I hate it now. But it’s nice and … definitely unique.”

It also draws spectators who sometimes must squeeze up against the fence surrounding The Cage to avoid blocking sidewalk traffic.

And its history is known beyond New York City. Lisa Ogden, 46, a San Diego, Calif., high school teacher, visited recently with her husband, a high school basketball coach, and her son, a high school basketball player.

“We had to make sure they had to see this at least for one day when we are visiting New York,” she said one day in mid-July, speaking for her entire family.

“It’s a fun court to play if you make it worth it,” said Worthy Nash, who has done play-by-play announcing at The Cage for 25 years. “You can show all the talent you got.”

On Twitter @SJChan_13.